DETROIT -- Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter was suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount Friday for throwing a ball at Cleveland's Danys Baez.

Hunter decided not to challenge the penalty and will start serving the suspension, imposed by baseball vice president Bob Watson, on Saturday.

"We figured, lets get it out of the way right now,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "This will be Torii's All-Star break.''

Angry that he was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning of Minnesota's 8-5 win Wednesday, Hunter pushed past third-base coach Al Newman and catcher Einar Diaz to get to the ball. The All-Star then fired it directly at Baez. The ball deflected off his glove and hit Baez on a leg.

Hunter was ejected by plate umpire Ted Barrett. Both benches and bullpens emptied and the umpiring crew met with both managers before play resumed.

In the second inning, Baez had hit A.J. Pierzynski with a pitch.

Baez went to the Minnesota clubhouse after the game, and the two talked over their differences.

The Twins were in Detroit to open a three-game series Friday night.

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Three games? I think three games is too much. He didn't charge the mound or throw the bat at him. Benches cleared, but nothing became of it. He admitted it was wrong as well.

Why not let players settle their issues on the field? I realize there is some difference, but what if the Twins pitcher had taken the mound in the bottom of the sixth and drilled Thome, would he have gotten suspended?

Oh well, at least the division looks won already, this will give Hunter some time off, though he's been playing **really** well lately.

I still dont understand how this works. Huunter gets hit with the ball, he has no glove. He throws it back to the pitcher, who has a glove, and Hunter gets suspended. Ahh well, if a 14 game lead in the AL Central doesnt cure that, I dont know what does.